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Well, that was one hell of a ride, I was both dreading and anticipating this last half of the last season for Bojack, simply because it was literally the calm before the storm, where all of Bojack's past actions finally catch up to him. I think one of the greatest strengths of the show is how it not only accurately portrays depression (in the case of Diane) but how it's a much more realistic take on damaged people in life, especially in show business. Bojack doesn't really go on a redemptive arc, he's no saint by the end of the show and his need for validation and attention is still present even in the last episode when talks to PC about potentially starting again in the movie industry. Bojack's changed for sure, but he's still got a long way to go and I liked they didn't cop out with him dying at the end, but I did really like how they tied it to the series intro opening. The ending to me sums up what Diane said to Bojack, "Life's a bitch, sometimes you gotta keep on living". I like how Bojack and other people's stories like him don't just end on either a triumphant note or complete failure, as him dying due to his addictions would be effectively the coward's way out with him not having to live with the repurcussions of his actions, while him magically being absolved of his previous actions would undermine the character development for most of the characters in the story.

My own personal highlights for the season in general:



What are your thoughts? Definitely going to have at least a few days of post-TV series depression now lol.

I am a little disappointed he didn't die because I had a bet going that he was going to die. But I think it was a great season end and it really did end in fantastic ways because of the reasons you said.

The episode before the last, facing all the people in his life who died around him... thats a perfect Bojack episode. Deep and meaningful and layered and emphasizing the trials of the characters. Great.

 Lance845 wrote:
I am a little disappointed he didn't die because I had a bet going that he was going to die. But I think it was a great season end and it really did end in fantastic ways because of the reasons you said.

The episode before the last, facing all the people in his life who died around him... thats a perfect Bojack episode. Deep and meaningful and layered and emphasizing the trials of the characters. Great.

I think this series in general does a great job with how they don't have the issue many adult cartoon animations get caught in, which is the formulaic A and B plot focus that Bob's Burgers, American Dad, Family Guy and Simpsons get caught in. For content as heavy as this, I really like they change it up with the penultimate episode you mentioned, it was a great segueway to exploring and voicing a lot of the demons that quite literally haunt Bojack in the episode and how intergenerational the "damage" or how broken people are from both his immediate family and cast family of Sarah Lynn and Herb. It definitely gave me vibes of the Free Churro monologue he had in the previous season (another example of a great break from the usual format) and even a bit of the light heartedness of the one with the seahorse baby when Bojack was under the sea.

As far as animated Western TV shows go, I have to say Bojack has taken the cake as one of my top ones. Up there with both Venture Bros. and the DCAU.

 Lance845 wrote:
I am a little disappointed he didn't die because I had a bet going that he was going to die. But I think it was a great season end and it really did end in fantastic ways because of the reasons you said.

The episode before the last, facing all the people in his life who died around him... thats a perfect Bojack episode. Deep and meaningful and layered and emphasizing the trials of the characters. Great.

It's a great end, though Bojack's survival doesn't really get the full payoff until Diane brings up the phone call. That ties the show beginning to end so perfectly and was the point where I felt they really nailed it.